Near-End-Season Primer: Cumberland Valley Eagles 10/27

Cumberland Valley   Quarterback Situation    4.0 GPA. 6'0, 184 pounds.   He has a 55-second mid-season tape on Hudl and scattered reps from four games earlier in the season. If he wants a shot at being recruited, his Hudl will have to get cleaned up as soon as possible.   Has some solid throws outside of the pocket, accurate while under duress. Has a lively arm that is capable of hitting guys downfield. Reads his nines, seams, and posts well downfield. A ways from being considered to play at the next level, yet the kid shows flashes of collegiate play. Great grades too. Shepley had an impressive start against Harrisburg, I had the opportunity to attend that game live. Led two CV possessions to the end zone after seeing a seam and nine spring open downfield. More games like the one he had against Harrisburg and I'd be forced to rank him well. Un-ranked for now, however.    Rushing Attack    6'2, 190 pounds. Can get a feel for what Pines provides as a two-way athlete thanks to an organized Hudl. After performing well as a sophomore both at CV and at our camp in Manheim, Pines landed relatively well on our 2026 rankings. A Division Two grade provided, yet his work as a junior has me thinking that Pines might be deserving of a bump.   Pines might be on his way to an FCS-capable grade. The junior boasts a phenomenal build while providing the play-making skills of an electric, smaller back. The first rep on tape shows Pines taking a hand-off between the tackles for a 50-yard score without a heavy formation in front of him. Pines is blowing me away from an acceleration perspective. The kid looks more explosive than ever. Can be swung out of the backfield to catch screens, swings, outs, and even delayed wheels. Fantastic hand-eye coordination. I usually lean towards OLB/TE/WR/S when I project backs with this kind of size. If Pines gets FCS love, it will likely come via the Safety/Wideout position. I could see Pines draw interest at back at the Division Two level. A tough ball player you can win with. He can play in the slot on both sides of the ball, is tough enough to get his face mask dirty in support of the run, and has some goal-line reps showing off his toughness. A true stock-riser in every sense of the word.   Pines wrapped up about 6-8 Cougars during my time on the sideline against Harrisburg, he also strung together a handful of runs, one of which went for a score.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/PinesBrody?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PinesBrody</a> kicks off the scoring for Cumberland Valley here at Harrisburg. 7-0 CV after a Harrisburg pick. <a href="https://t.co/fv5sY53Xxr">pic.twitter.com/fv5sY53Xxr</a>— VicCastilloPRZ (@PRZPAvic) <a href="https://twitter.com/PRZPAvic/status/1845149693870825925?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2024</a></blockquote>    Wideouts/ATH to Know    A receiver who stuck out like a sore thumb in the huddle. 6'3, 185 pounds. Unranked, my first time seeing the kid work. Didn't have much impact on the game because of the lack of targets, yet his presence was felt on defense.   Smith has a ton of tape readily available, including a mid-season tape, yet his Twitter isn't active. Based on size and potential alone, he could garner some serious attention. I'd likely have Smith ranked this coming update regardless of the fact that tape was available, considering his potential.   Smith's mid-season tape blew me away. Can serve as the Z/flanker on Cumberland Valley. Has a stride to him, can freeze DBs with inside moves then out-stride kids when attacking vertically. Tough kid to bring down in open space. Is a threat in the red zone. Can be a vacuum to throw balls into via fades from the slot or outside. Can play some defense, can't question his toughness. Is a 50/50 winner. Going to rank very high once our next update is presented. Potential is through the roof, would have loved to see him go at it with [player_tooltip player_id='212414' first='Elias' last='Coke'] but didn't get the opportunity to do so.    Linemen to Know    Enough has come to light surrounding the national prospect that is Cumberland Valley's [player_tooltip player_id='388098' first='Tyler' last='Merrill']. There isn't much that can be said that hasn't been said already. There are hardly any offensive linemen stationed in the Northeast who project to Power Four ball better than the junior tackle.   Talking recruiting news surrounding the elite 2026 National Prospect, things have been relatively quiet on socials. Prior to Week Zero action, Merrill endorsed numerous outside media predictions voicing the potential for Notre Dame to secure the top-five prospect. Since, Michigan brought in Merrill for a weekend visit back in September, with Merrill voicing positive moments and conversations post-visit.   Worth mentioning, Merrill's current measurables have been bumped up to 6'6, 325 pounds. He will garner top overall prospect consideration once, as he does with each passing update.    The Front Seven    6'2, 205 pounds. A capable prospect on both sides of the ball. On our watch list because of a lack of tape prior to the season.   Checking back in on Bruaw, we are still met with no tape to dissect after ten weeks of ball being played. This being said, I'm almost positive I saw and heard Bruaw's name being called in the game against Harrisburg. At some point, I'm expecting to see some substantial tape out of the sophomore with promising size.     5'6, 155 pounds. 4.0 GPA. A player who performs beyond his measurables. A senior without tape from this season. Going to be an uphill battle if he wants to be recruited at this point.   I still want to mention the backer/DB for his performance against Harrisburg. Hockenberry caught one of Lewis' four interceptions and was in on numerous stuffs inside the box. If he can put some tape on Hudl in the next two weeks, I'll end up leaving a spot for him on our rankings.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/BradyHock?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BradyHock</a> with an interception of Harrisburg here. Huge momentum swing. This would lead to the second CV TD previously posted. <a href="https://t.co/SRVsLSwEHF">pic.twitter.com/SRVsLSwEHF</a>— VicCastilloPRZ (@PRZPAvic) <a href="https://twitter.com/PRZPAvic/status/1845156617890779362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2024</a></blockquote>     6'3, 230 pounds. 3.8 GPA. Is a basketball participant. Ranked seven spots away from top 100 honors among PA seniors. Holds offers out of Eastern Kentucky, Colgate, and Bucknell, the most recent coming in the summer (EKU).   Has just a four-game tape on Hudl spanning back about 6-7 weeks prior to writing. Said tape doesn't highlight/circle Buzalka, which is a shame. Senior tape showcases his skills at tight end. Buzalka is comfortable being split out to the slot. Is a middle-of-the-field dominator. Is a bit more dynamic in the open field than I have given credit for in the past. Has experience deployed at the H-Back/sniffer alignment. Initially ranked as a collegiate defensive lineman, I can see a future where he plays FCS ball at tight end after watching him work as a weapon on offense both on tape and in person. Can work the flats, is often seen catching swing passes here for CV, as well as some bubble screens. Buzalka has some defensive reps sprinkled into this four-game tape, not much, however.    Secondary    Huge boost in measurables. If Sherman really is up to 6'0 from 5'10, and up 185 from 170, his stock will be pushed further through the roof. I was enamored with Sherman's freshman tape, ranking him a top-five DB prospect among 2027 PA underclassmen.   Sherman was on the receiving end of a Shepley seam ball that put Sherman in the end zone against Harrisburg. Sherman has consistently uploaded single-game cut-ups, as well as a cohesive mid-season tape, I applaud the effort in keeping up with his Hudl.   *Mid-season tape showcases the sophomore's abilities as a kick returner, wideout, and safety. Comfortable in two-high sets, is a flash to a point once he diagnoses. Can double as a safety who can come downhill and fill the alley in support of the run, as well as a safety who can rotate over top and play center field. An advanced understanding of route concepts and can key these concepts on the fly. Is a seam and post neutralizer, especially when aligned in single-high sets. This is a future Division One defensive back, especially if his measurables hold true. Sherman's wideout and return reps are icing on the cake. As easily he can take away the middle of the field from his safety spot, he can attack the middle via his slot alignment on offense. Fun player to watch.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1542884' first='Grant' last='Shepley'] throws a dime downfield after another CV interception of Lewis. 14-7 CV in the 2nd <a href="https://t.co/7HDrtj9HME">pic.twitter.com/7HDrtj9HME</a>— VicCastilloPRZ (@PRZPAvic) <a href="https://twitter.com/PRZPAvic/status/1845155995929993542?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2024</a></blockquote>     Track & Field participant. 5'7, 145 pounds. Had an early and late impact on the football game against Harrisburg. Self reports a 10.71 100M time, that time translates onto the football field. Currently an un-offered senior.   Green caught the first of many Harrisburg-thrown interceptions, Green set the tone, however. Green was playing at the hip well, turned his head downfield to notice an under-thrown ball headed his way, he caught it and returned it inside the goal line. Green would then beat a Harrisburg corner on a nine route down the sideline for a 30-yard touchdown in the second half. Green was also in on the final play that would force a turnover on downs, ultimately sealing the victory for CV over Harrisburg a couple of weeks back. Great live performance. No first-three or mid-season tape on Hudl quite yet. Excited to see more in the future.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">With just 30 seconds left, after another Harrisburg thrown interception, CV would run a double move and score from 30 yards out. 21-7 CV at halftime. <a href="https://t.co/WD0BHxw60Y">pic.twitter.com/WD0BHxw60Y</a>— VicCastilloPRZ (@PRZPAvic) <a href="https://twitter.com/PRZPAvic/status/1845162589589803218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2024</a></blockquote>     6'3, 210 pounds. A serious baseball prospect/player. 3.9 GPA, currently unoffered. Was one of the many CV prospects to pick off Lewis in the game I attended against Harrisburg.     Kendrick has a first-six on his Hudl, posted about three weeks prior to writing. Enough on it to entice coaches who might be willing to recruit the big two-way athlete. An OLB comfortable playing as a 7-tech or in space split out toward the slot. Has some great get-offs and TFLs recorded on tape, can wreck a set if his instincts prove right. His good get-off creates a ton of forward momentum, his already sizable build becomes that much harder to block off the edge. Can scream/pursue down the LOS, good effort player too. Most reps have him depolyed inside the box/front-seven, yet he has reps aligned as at safety. Solid tape from a prospect who is deserved of some extra attention.

Cumberland Valley